Although having gone through monumental shifts in style and culture the basis and content of the genre has remained constant. Since groups like NWA and De La Soul used their music as a way to express cultural divides and relations among inner city communities and law enforcement, much has changed in terms of outlook and optimism. While songs like Public Enemy’s “fight the power” called for a rise in black nationalism and sweeping social change across a nation. Songs Compared to songs like “Real Niggaz Don’t Die” and “Fuck the Police” the song of today have a more positive outlook that preaches of a light at the end of the tunnel after much strife and tribulation for impoverished minority communities across the county.
Today, Kendrick Lamar …show more content…
While some rappers use their lyrics to glorify drug/alcohol use along with gang and hood culture, Lamar strays from the mold and tries to bring to light the strife of the people, much like what was being done in the late 1980’s with groups like Public Enemy and NWA. Kendrick’s hit single “Alright” is a clear cut example of how his music has defined a cultural time period and become the voice of empowerment. The song’s only sample besides Lamar’s own music is from the film the Color Purple, which is the story of slave women in the 1800’s. The opening line of the song “All my life I’ve had to fight”, was used in the color purple to define the extreme environment that the slaves lived in and how they were constantly battling for survival be it with other slaves or their masters. Today, Kendrick uses the line to talk about the turbulent times he and other African Americans have faced with gang violence, law informant and lawmakers. The songs hook “we gon’ be alright” has become the battle cry for many young African Americans across the nation. The line has been chanted at #BlackLivesMatter across the nation and …show more content…
The songs opening bridge “If Pirus and Crips all got along / They'd probably gun me down by the end of this song / Seem like the whole city go against me” he talks about how by speaking out against gang violence in the song he becomes a target for them, fortunately for Kendrick the divisions between the two groups is so bad that it’s a near impossibility. In maad city, Kendrick describes growing up with numerous firearms around him, from friends carrying 9mm pistols to every porch looking like a Pakistani war zone because of how armed everyone is and how terrible the gang conflicts are. One of the saddest lines in this comes when Kendrick exclaims ““Aye y’all duck” / that’s what mamma said when we was eating the free lunch” which brings into account the constant danger they were in along with the crippling poverty they faced as a result of their socio-economic status. Wrapping up the first part of the song Kendrick gives some advice to those living in Compton trying to find a way to survive “go buy a chopper and have a doctor on speed dial, I guess”. Kendrick is accepting that this is the current reality in the inner city as thousands of young men lose their lives from gang war fare. Not all of Kendrick’s lyrics in this son are negative. He gives people hope that he is the one that will change things
Today, Kendrick Lamar …show more content…
While some rappers use their lyrics to glorify drug/alcohol use along with gang and hood culture, Lamar strays from the mold and tries to bring to light the strife of the people, much like what was being done in the late 1980’s with groups like Public Enemy and NWA. Kendrick’s hit single “Alright” is a clear cut example of how his music has defined a cultural time period and become the voice of empowerment. The song’s only sample besides Lamar’s own music is from the film the Color Purple, which is the story of slave women in the 1800’s. The opening line of the song “All my life I’ve had to fight”, was used in the color purple to define the extreme environment that the slaves lived in and how they were constantly battling for survival be it with other slaves or their masters. Today, Kendrick uses the line to talk about the turbulent times he and other African Americans have faced with gang violence, law informant and lawmakers. The songs hook “we gon’ be alright” has become the battle cry for many young African Americans across the nation. The line has been chanted at #BlackLivesMatter across the nation and …show more content…
The songs opening bridge “If Pirus and Crips all got along / They'd probably gun me down by the end of this song / Seem like the whole city go against me” he talks about how by speaking out against gang violence in the song he becomes a target for them, fortunately for Kendrick the divisions between the two groups is so bad that it’s a near impossibility. In maad city, Kendrick describes growing up with numerous firearms around him, from friends carrying 9mm pistols to every porch looking like a Pakistani war zone because of how armed everyone is and how terrible the gang conflicts are. One of the saddest lines in this comes when Kendrick exclaims ““Aye y’all duck” / that’s what mamma said when we was eating the free lunch” which brings into account the constant danger they were in along with the crippling poverty they faced as a result of their socio-economic status. Wrapping up the first part of the song Kendrick gives some advice to those living in Compton trying to find a way to survive “go buy a chopper and have a doctor on speed dial, I guess”. Kendrick is accepting that this is the current reality in the inner city as thousands of young men lose their lives from gang war fare. Not all of Kendrick’s lyrics in this son are negative. He gives people hope that he is the one that will change things